Pa. diocese alerts public to dead priest’s abuse

WILKINSBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has alerted parishioners in one suburban parish of sex abuse allegations against a now-dead priest.

The diocese says the letter was sent to members of St. James Church in Wilkinsburg, and involved an allegation church officials received from the brother of a man — who is also now dead — that he was abused by the Rev. John Wellinger.

Wellinger was the assistant pastor of the church from 1981 to 1985 when the alleged abuse took place. The diocese is alerting parishioners so that anyone who may have also been abused by Wellinger at that parish, or others he served at in the diocese, can receive counseling and other help from the diocese.

Wellinger was part of a $1.25 million settlement involving 32 victims that the diocese announced in 2007.